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Happy Sustainable Holidays!! |
Incorporating your sustainable values during the holidays doesn’t have
to be hard. Let’s take the three basic tenants of sustainability and
apply them to our celebrations. The three basic tenants
are known as the three E’s- Environment, Economy and Equity.
Here’s how
we translate that into action:
Healthy Diverse Environment
During the holidays we can shop for eco-friendly gifts or we can be really great and
make gifts from things that might normally go in the trash or
recycling. Need ideas? Please visit our Sustainability Center or attend our "Make Your Own Gifts from Recycled Materials" workshop on Sunday, Dec. 16th at the Fairfax Pavilion from 3-7.
You can also give the gift of your time. A coupon good for one hike in
the woods or watershed, a bike ride, a day helping with a home project,
or something you are good at for a friend or family member. Think of
that thing you never seem to have time for but have always wanted to
do. After living in the Bay Area for 15 years I finally took my
daughter on a bike ride around Angel Island. Amazing day!
Of course you could donate on someone’s behalf to a local non-profit like Sustainable Fairfax . I had to get that in there somewhere.
Consider buying a potted living holiday tree for reuse each year,
instead of a one-time cut disposable tree or use a wooden post with
holes drilled in and add boughs of fresh greenery sustainably harvested
from a local tree that needs some pruning.
Buy energy-efficient holiday lights. L.E.D lights on the market that
claim to save 80% over conventional lights. Fairfax Lumber has a nice
selection this year.
Local Economy
Well that’s an easy one. If you feel you need to
shop-Shop locally!
Challenge yourself to not shop at a chain or at the
mall- Can you do it??? Try starting as close to home as possible and
then expanding out.
Want to give it all? Buy a copy of the Green Zebra coupon book.
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BookBeat has a nice selection of hats, mugs, shirts, journals, and oh yes books.
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What about a gift certificate for ice cream from Fairfax Scoop.
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We saw beautiful calendars at Avatar.
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Rainbow Fabrics has lots of good ideas for those homemade gifts.
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Fairfax Variety, Sherman's General Store, and Revolution 9 have everything you need for the kids on your list.
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How about local gourmet food gifts for the party host from Good Earth.
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Get a Bicycle at either Sunshine Bicycles or Fairfax Cyclery-Imagine a town this size supporting two bike shops-Yay!
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Inspire a friend planning a remodel with a gift certificate from Green Fusion.
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Get your Living or sustainable grown tree from O'Donnell's Fairfax Nursery or Sunnyside Nursery.
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Looking for the perfect festive outfit? Tela D has all organic cotton.
How about Yeah Baby or Stella’s Consignment store in the Red Hill
Shopping Center; reuse and reasonable prices.
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While in San Anselmo-Antiques are always nice, so is a long thriving one of kind business like The Great Acorn.
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Local thrift stores include is St. Rita's in Fairfax and in San Anselmo, The Humane Society thrift shop.
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If you can’t find it in Fairfax or San Anselmo, San Rafael should be
your next stop with games for family bonding at Gamescape and much
more. Possibilities are endless and you don’t have to fight traffic,
spend on gas, and pollute your way to the over expensive malls for
items wrapped in plastic.
Equity is usually translated as if your neighbor isn’t doing well than neither are you.
We call this Connected Community-
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How about hosting your own neighborhood Block Party Potluck. One
neighborhood hosts a traveling three house party-one for appetizers,
one for soups and salads and one for dessert and caroling. Consider
spending time with family or friends helping other less fortunate. One
site is: Holiday Gifts of Love across Marin
This is not by any means a complete list but it should get you thinking
and talking. Be sure to share your quest with family and friends.
Disclaimer-We didn’t mean to make any assumptions about anyone’s
religion or leave anyone out. We adore and respect a great many of our
local businesses, but could not name them all.
A few more online resources you might like-
MOST IMPORTANT- Have a Happy holiday-be safe, spend time with your people and live like you mean it!
Pam Hartwell-Herrero
Executive Director
Sustainable Fairfax
www.sustainablefairfax.org
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Sustainable Fairfax is one of the first groups in Marin to pioneer sustainability, with a legacy of educating the town council, supporting the community,
providing services to the town, and conducting educational events since
1999. We believe sustainability is not just an end goal, but is a guiding principle for decision making and everyday living. Learn more about Sustainable Fairfax >>
Good Earth Natural Foods